Defendant receives probation in meth case

A man has been sentenced to probation for his role in a meth lab in Leavenworth.

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The Leavenworth Times - Leavenworth, KS

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Posted Oct. 6, 2012 at 7:45 AM

Posted Oct. 6, 2012 at 7:45 AM

A man has been sentenced to probation for his role in a meth lab in Leavenworth.

Brian C. Brice, 29, was sentenced to 18 months of probation for conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. He was sentenced Friday in Leavenworth County District Court.

Brice, who now lives in Overland Park, is one of several people who were charged after police found a meth lab during a search in January 2011 at 908 Limit St.

He pleaded no contest to the conspiracy charge in August. Four other charges were dismissed at that time as part of a plea agreement.

At the time of the plea, Assistant County Attorney Adam Zentner said if the case had gone to trial, evidence would have shown that Brice entered into an agreement to obtain supplies for the manufacture of methamphetamine.

During Friday’s sentencing, Zentner said as part of the plea agreement, the prosecution had no objection to the defense pursuing probation if Brice was eligible.

When arguing for probation, defense attorney Geoffrey Sonntag said Brice had cooperated with law enforcement and served as a witness.

“He’s provided substantial aid to the state in this case,” he said.

The attorney said his client also has been receiving substance abuse treatment.

Sonntag said Brice has turned his life around. The attorney he didn’t think anyone would have thought that Brice could have made such a turnaround.

When given the opportunity to speak, Brice asked for probation.

“I’ve been doing really good,” he said.

Brice said he likes being sober.

“It’s a better life for me,” he said.

When imposing the sentence, District Judge Gunnar Sundby told Brice that methamphetamine is an insidious drug.

But Sundby told Brice that it appears the “light has clicked on with you.”

The judge suspended a 24-month prison sentence and placed Brice on probation.

Also Friday, another case involving a misdemeanor charge against Brice was dismissed.

Others who were charged in connection to the meth lab previously were sentenced. Most of the other defendants received probation. But Randall W. Smith was sentenced in February to 12.5 years in prison for manufacturing methamphetamine. One of the other defendants, Gregory S. Rosa, was sentenced in August to 60 days in jail in addition to 18 months of probation for possession of methamphetamine.